Small carnivores in a logging concession in the Upper Baram, Sarawak, Borneo
John MATHAI, Jason HON, Ngumbang JUAT, Amanda PETER and Melvin GUMAL
Abstract
Sarawak, Borneo, faces high levels of deforestation: logging, oil palm plantations, hunting and shifting cultivation pose major threats to its diverse fauna. Very little credible, accurate and up-to-date information exists regarding the small carnivores of Sarawak, even though many are considered threatened by the IUCN Red List. The first 54 months of a long-term wildlife monitoring programme in a logging concession in the Upper Baram of Sarawak found 14 of the 19 small carnivores expected there. Yellow-throated Marten Martes flav- igula, Binturong Arctictis binturong, Masked Palm Civet Paguma larvata, Common Palm Civet Paradoxurus hermaphroditus, Banded Civet Hemigalus derbyanus and Short-tailed Mongoose Herpestes brachyurus seemed fairly widespread, and Hose’s Civet Diplogale hosei, endemic to Borneo, was recorded often: the site may thus be a valuable one for further research into this little-known species. Main threats to small carnivores remain unclear, but they are not the primary quarry species of local hunters. Further camera-trapping of small carnivores supplemented with techniques to study the semi-arboreal and semi-aquatic species is urgently required to clarify their conservation status.
Keywords: activity patterns, camera-trapping, Diplogale hosei, Hose’s Civet, logging
Karnivora kecil di satu kawasan pembalakan di Ulu Baram, Sarawak, Borneo. Abstrak
Sarawak, Borneo, sedang mengalami kadar kemusnahan hutan yang tinggi: pembalakan, perladangan kelapa sawit, pemburuan dan pertanian pindah randah merupakan ancaman utama kepada kepelbagaian faunanya. Sangat sedikit maklumat terkini yang tepat dan sa- hih wujud berkaitan karnivora kecil di Sarawak, walaupun kebanyakannya tergolong dalam “IUCN Red List”. 54 bulan pertama dalam program kajian jangka panjang pemantauan hidupan liar di sebuah kawasan pembalakan di Ulu Baram, Sarawak, mendapati 14 spesis daripada 19 spesis karnivora kecil yang dijangkakan di situ, dengan kadar penemuan yang rendah berbanding hidupan liar yang lain. Yellow-throated Marten Martes flavigula, Binturong Arctictis binturong, Masked Palm Civet Paguma larvata, Common Palm Civet Paradoxurus hermaphroditus, Banded Civet Hemigalus derbyanus dan Short-tailed Mongoose Herpestes brachyurus nampaknya bert- aburan meluas, dan Hose’s Civet Diplogale hosei, endemik ke Borneo, nampaknya juga biasa ditemui: ini menunjukkan tempat ini suatu tempat kajian sangat bernilai untuk penyelidikan spesis yang sangat kurang kita ketahui ini. Ancaman utama kepada karnivora kecil di sini masih kita tidak pasti,tetapi spesis-spesis ini bukanlah tumpuan utama pemburu-pemburu tempatan. Kajian seterusnya meng- gunakan perangkap kamera, dan dibantu oleh teknik-teknik penyelidikan untuk spesis-spesis semi-arboreal dan semi-akuatik amatlah diperlukan segera untuk menentukan status pemuliharaannya.
Kata kunci: corak-corak aktiviti, perangkap kamera, Hose’s Civet, Diplogale hosei, pembalakan
Introduction strategies. Forest health can, in some circumstances, be ascertained The Sundaic subregion of Southeast Asia, comprising the Thai– by monitoring carnivores, but this requires sufficient data to be Malay peninsula, Borneo, Sumatra, Java and Bali, has very high gathered with the resources available. Carnivores sit high in the mammal species richness and endemicity (Corbet & Hill 1992). food chain, and regulate populations of prey and other carnivores Borneo, approximately 746,337 km², is among its biologically through predation and competition. Apart from diverse vertebrate richest units, and a centre of distribution for many Indomalayan and invertebrate prey, carnivores in Sarawak eat many fruits, and faunal genera (MacKinnon et al. 1996) with a high level of mam- regularly pass intact seeds in their faeces, indicating their impor- malian endemicity (Payne et al. 1985). tance as seed dispersers (Wells et al. 2005). They thus have cas- Borneo currently suffers high levels of deforestation (Lang- cading effects on the entire forest trophic system and play a vital ner et al. 2007). In the state of Sarawak, forests outside protected role in forest regeneration. areas are rapidly being degraded by timber extraction and convert- Borneo was identified as one of seven global priority areas ed to oil palm plantations and other land developments. Protected in the 1989 IUCN/SSC Action plan for the conservation of mus- areas make up just 4% of Sarawak’s land area whereas 35.2% telids and viverrids (Schreiber et al. 1989). It has more endemic are earmarked for logging activities (Sarawak Forest Department carnivores than any other island except Madagascar (calculated 1997), so it is critical to document status of mammals in forest from data in Meiri 2005): Bay Cat Catopuma badia, Hose’s Civet remnants within logging concessions and in the modified habitats Diplogale hosei, Bornean Ferret Badger Melogale everetti, and, themselves, to determine conservation priorities and management if a valid species, which most recent authors (e.g. Corbett & Hill
1 Small Carnivore Conservation, Vol. 42: 1–9, June 2010 Mathai et al.
1992, Patou et al. 2009) doubt, Hose’s Mongoose Herpestes ho- Methods sei. The term ‘small carnivores’ is used here for small-bodied members of the order Carnivora; that is, all Bornean species of Study Area that order excepting Sun Bear Helarctos malayanus and Sunda The Sela’an-Linau FMU, of 55,949 ha, lies in the hinterland Clouded Leopard Neofelis diardi. In the Schedules of Totally of northern Sarawak, north of the upper Baram River (Fig. 1). Protected and Protected Species in Sarawak (under the Wild Life Samling Strategic Corporation (Samling) is the licensed conces- Protection Ordinance 1998), only the felids (excepting Leopard sionaire, under Timber Licence T/0412. In the FMU live many Cat Prionailurus bengalensis) are listed as Totally Protected, with indigenous communities such as the Kayan, Kelabit, Kenyah and special protection and severe punishment to offenders; all other Penan, many of whom depend on forest for their livelihoods and small carnivores are listed as merely Protected, with limited pro- on wildlife for their protein. tection and lenient punishment. In spite of the undoubted impor- The Sela’an-Linau FMU is undulating in nature, with alti- tance of Borneo to small carnivores, credible, accurate and up-to- tudes from 300 m above sea level (a.s.l.) in its south-west to about date information about their distribution and ecology in Sarawak 2,000 m a.s.l. in the Tama Abu Range on its eastern edge. Much is scarce, with few systematic studies. supports mixed dipterocarp forest (60%), with some montane for- To understand status and ecology of wildlife in logging con- est on higher ground (4%) and tropical heath forest (kerangas) on cessions in Sarawak, and evaluate conservation priorities and man- infertile soils (21%). Old and current swidden (temuda) covers agement recommendations, a long-term monitoring programme 15%. Enrichment planting with native timber species is occurring was launched by WCS Malaysia in 2004 in the Sela’an-Linau in some 3,000 ha that burnt during the 1997–1998 El Niño event. Forest Management Unit (FMU), the first of only two concessions About half the forest was logged conventionally in the past, and in the state to be certified under the Malaysian Timber Certifica- since 2003 a reduced impact logging (RIL) is applied. The area tion Scheme. The main objective was to document the diversity receives high rainfall (3,400–5,900 mm annually) with no dis- and distribution of non-volant mammals, birds and bats within the tinct wet or dry season. Temperatures in low-lying areas average FMU; small carnivores were simply part of the general remit, and around 26˚C, falling to 14˚C on summits. reported here are records of them from the first 54 months. This Surveys were concentrated in 14 sites in the western, north- FMU lies near the Kelabit Highlands that were, through the efforts ern and central Sela’an-Linau FMU (Fig. 2). The survey areas was of T. Harrisson in the 1940s, among the historically best collected divided into sectors based on a variety of human uses, to allow in- parts of Borneo. This collection (Davis 1958) recorded several vestigation of occurrence patterns for regularly encountered spe- small carnivores of particular interest through their endemicity to cies (Table 1; elaborated in Hon et al. 2009); no small carnivore Borneo and/or present global threat status, making a modern as- was found frequently enough to allow an analysis of such spatial sessment of the area a high priority. precision. Most of the survey efforts were performed in the Pro-
Fig. 1. The Sela’an-Linau Forest Management Unit (FMU) in Upper Baram.
Small Carnivore Conservation, Vol. 42, June 2010 2 Small carnivores in a Sarawak logging concession
was abandoned because ants and rats quickly consumed baits and the heavy rains in the study area soon washed away all traces of the lures. Because many cameras malfunctioned, it was not pos- sible to determine whether the baits/lures increased encounter rate of animals. Independent observations were taken as consecutive images of conspecifics at the same camera location separated by at least half an hour (O’Brien et al. 2003). This did not pose much of a problem: most such images were separated by at least 2 hours, with Malay Civet and Masked Palm Civet the species most often providing repeat photographs within half an hour. The 24 hours of the day were divided into 01h01–04h00 = Late night; 04h01– 07h00 = Dawn; 07h01–10h00 = Morning; 10h01–17h00 = Day; 17h01–19h00 = Dusk; 19h01–23h00 = Early night; 23h01–01h00 = Midnight. Line transects undertaken separately for direct sighting and for sign surveys were the major general survey methods (Hon et al. 2009) but both yielded too few small carnivore records for species-level analysis. Latrines, with multiple piles of faeces of different ages, were reported by local people to be only from Ma- lay Civet. If true, it would enable effective detection and visual identification of Malay Civet through signs. These records, those from reconnaissances, and incidental records were all used in the preparation of the present text.
Results
In total, 16 carnivore species were recorded: 14 small carnivores, Sun Bear and Sunda Clouded Leopard (Table 2). Of the small car- nivores, four are listed as Vulnerable under the IUCN Red List Fig. 2. Location of line transects used for wildlife surveys and of Threatened Species and one as Data Deficient (IUCN 2009). focal areas of camera-trapping in the Sela’an-Linau FMU. Otters could not be identified to species; the species present is/are Endangered, Vulnerable and/or Near-Threatened. Both large car- nivores are Vulnerable. The Protected Zone recorded nine of the tected Zone (PZ), an area which is set aside for conservation, with 14 small carnivore species found (64.3%). Survey effort and type no timber harvesting planned in the FMU’s current Forest Man- varied too much from site to site for comparisons between them of agement Plan. The PZ is not gazetted under the state government their small carnivore records to be meaningful (Table 1). and hence, has no legal protection. The PZ covers roughly 15,000 ha, comprising a fairly contiguous block of about 8,000 ha and Malay Weasel Mustela nudipes clusters of smaller, oddly shaped, patches. It is mainly montane Malay Weasel was encountered twice, on the ground, by line and submontane forest, ranging from 900 m to almost 2,000 m transect surveys (Table 3). It was never camera-trapped, reflecting a.s.l. a great rarity of such photographs from across its range, for as yet unknown reasons (Duckworth et al. 2006). Methodology Fieldwork spanned March 2004 to September 2008, using multi- Yellow-throated Marten Martes flavigula ple methods. Three recorded small carnivores: line transects (di- Martens were found under a wide range of disturbances including urnal direct observation), sign surveys, and camera-trapping. The logging activities, shifting cultivation and hunting pressure. As in survey walked 789⅛ km of line transects, 277½ km during sign India (Choudhury 1997) and Myanmar (Than Zaw et al. 2008), it surveys, and camera-trapped for 5,252 trap-nights. occupied a wide elevation range. It was found twice in the mid- Camera-trapping occurred from January 2005 to September dle canopy of trees, and thrice on the ground, in the morning and 2008, using 40 Camtrakker™ units. In 2008, two LeafRiver dig- dusk, reflecting its mainly diurnal nature (Grassman et al. 2005, ital units were acquired. By the end of survey, all 42 cameras were Than Zaw et al. 2008). Animals were detected as singletons, duos out of commission, mainly through high humidity. Cameras were or trios, as elsewhere (Parr & Duckworth 2007). Line transects set at salt licks, at Great Argus Argusianus argus dancing grounds, recorded more encounters than did camera-traps. and along ridges near the transect lines. Some were placed far from transect lines. Cameras were placed typically at heights of 20–30 Otters cm above ground level, at a distance 1–1½ m from the animal trail. Otters were found only thrice, through tracks not identified to All cameras were set to run all 24 hours per day. Initially, baits of species. Very little is known about the different species of otters sardines and dead chicken, and lures consisting of commercially in Sarawak. Oriental Small-clawed Otter Aonyx cinereus may be available essences of banana, pandan and yam were trialled. This the widest-ranging otter in the state (Payne et al. 1985) and is
3 Small Carnivore Conservation, Vol. 42, June 2010 Mathai et al.
Table 1. Survey sites, their relative levels of disturbance and survey techniques employed. Site Logging regime Hunting Elevation Proximity Proximity Degree of Line Sign Camera-trap pressure to logging to slash contiguous transect survey (trap-nights) roads and burn forest (km) (km) fields and settlements Coupe 1 Block 8 Logged Before M M M M H 73.8 40 Not conducted (A and B) <5 years logging ago by After M M M M M 76.425 34.025 Not conducted RIL logging Coupe 1 Block 4 Logged 5–10 years H L H H L 138.575 74.275 All spoilt (C and D) ago by RIL Coupe 1 Blocks Logged <10 years ago H L/M H H L Not Not 461 5, 6 and 11 by RIL conducted conducted Coupe 9 Block Logged > 15 years ago H L M M M 79.425 42.675 All spoilt 14 (E and F) by CL, then subject to silviculture treatment Protected Zone Not to be logged L H L M H 94.45 48.55 1,280 (H, I and J) Coupe 5 (K and Logged >15 H L H H L 16.0 8.0 All spoilt L) years ago by CL, subsequently*** Selungo Unlogged; surrounded H L M H M Not Not 641 by burnt areas conducted conducted Sebuloh Unlogged H M L H M 88.75 8.0 Not conducted Beripun Unlogged L M L L H 56.0 4.0 546 Semali Unlogged, L H L L H 85.5 9.75 1,199 Long Lellang* Unlogged H L H H L 2.85 1.225 312 Long Sabai** Unlogged M M L M M Not Not 469 conducted conducted Selunok Unlogged M M L M H Not Not conducted conducted 344 Long Datih Unlogged H L L M M 39.6 7.0 Not conducted Relative levels (L=low, M=medium, H=high) of hunting pressure, proximity to logging roads, proximity to slash and burn fields + settlements and forest contiguity were assessed qualitatively through the surveyors’ observations. Elevation: low = average elevation <600 m above sea level; medium = average elevation 600–900 m a.s.l; high = average elevation >900 m a.s.l. CL = Conventional Logging; RIL = Reduced Impact Logging. *Kelabit settlement; **Penan settlement; *** subsequently burnt during El Niño fires 10 years ago; now subject to reforestation and shifting cultiva- tion known from the Kelabit Highlands, as is Hairy-nosed Otter Lutra as found by Colón (2002) and Jennings et al. (2006). All images sumatrana (Davis 1958). Although Smooth-coated Otter Lutro- were of singletons; except one adult with an infant on 25 Decem- gale perspicillata is widely distributed on Borneo, it has so far not ber 2005 at 18h26, in low elevation forest, close to old slash and been recorded in these highlands. Otter signs were found only in burn fields (03°14′58″N, 115°10′20″E; altitude 530 m). unlogged sites within the Sela’an-Linau FMU, but further survey is needed to determine whether this reflects chance or a genuine Common Palm Civet Paradoxurus hermaphroditus pattern of habitat use. This civet was detected thrice, always singly, this low detection no doubt reflecting its partly arboreal and nocturnal nature (Payne Banded Linsang Prionodon linsang et al. 1985). Records came from lower elevation forest with high A single linsang was camera-trapped on the ground, off an animal hunting pressure, rather close to logging roads and slash and burn track, at 00h34 on 18 May 2005 in the Protected Zone at 1,100 m fields. The sighting was in the morning in treetops; camera-trap (3°17′32″N, 115˚06′15″E). images were at midnight and late night, in line with past informa- tion that this species is overwhelmingly nocturnal with occasional Malay Civet Viverra tangalunga daylight activity. This civet was the most frequently found small carnivore, pho- tographed twelve times and detected by its apparent signs nine Masked Palm Civet Paguma larvata times, in three sites at medium to low elevation, with various lev- This civet was found once by line transects and six times by cam- els of hunting pressure and disturbance from shifting cultivation era-traps. The single sighting was of a duo at about 11h00 on 14 and logging activities, in fairly contiguous forest. Images were at May 2008, at altitude of about 690 m: the lowest encounter. Cam- early night, midnight, late night, dusk, and, mostly, dawn, sug- era-trap images were all of singletons, at early night, midnight and gesting a more crepuscular nature with some nocturnal activity, late night, suggesting the species is nocturnal with occasional day-
Small Carnivore Conservation, Vol. 42, June 2010 4 Small carnivores in a Sarawak logging concession
Table 2. Carnivores detected by all survey methods at all sites. Species Sites with corresponding number of independent observations at each site Coupe 1 Block 8 Before logging After logging Coupe 1 Block 4 Coupe 1 Blocks 5, 6, 11 Coupe 9 Block 14 Protected Zone Coupe 5 Selungoh Sebuloh Beripun Semali Long Lellang Long Sabai Selunok Long Datih no. of sites Total detected IUCN Red List Status
Malay Weasel 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 LC Yellow-throated 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 5 LC Marten Otter (Lutrinae) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 3 ** Banded Linsang 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 LC Malay Civet 8 1 0 0 0 0 0 12 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 LC Common Palm 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 LC Civet Masked Palm 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 LC Civet Binturong 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 VU Hose’s Civet 0 0 0 0 0 9 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 3 VU Banded Civet 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 3 VU Collared 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 DD Mongoose Short-tailed 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 LC Mongoose Marbled Cat 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 VU Leopard Cat 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 LC Total number of 3 *m 1 2 *c 0 2 *m 9 0 7 3 3 4 *c 1 0 0 1 species detected at each site Sun Bear 10 4 4 0 2 15 0 5 5 4 5 1 * * 1 12 VU Sunda Clouded 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 VU Leopard ‘Independent observations’ are defined in the text. Total number of sites where each species was detected and total number of small carnivores detected at each site is given, with corresponding IUCN Red list status (LC=Least concern, DD=Data deficient, VU=Vulnerable, EN=Endangered). Legal pro- tection status in Sarawak is discussed in the text. * Signs recorded incidentally at these sites, but not during formal transects.**All possible species are at least Near-Threatened (see text).*c Tracks of unidentified civets were recorded at these sites.*m Tracks of unidentified mongooses were recorded at these sites. light activity, in line with previous studies (e.g. Than Zaw et al. consistently in forests with medium to high contiguity, and not 2008). This civet’s semi-arboreal nature (Than Zaw et al. 2008) near logging roads; the sole logged site with a record had been may have contributed to the relatively few photographs. logged more than 15 years ago. Direct sightings were all by morn- ing, whereas camera-trap images were from morning, early night, Binturong Arctictis binturong midnight and late night, corroborating reports that Binturongs are Binturongs were detected four times by camera-trap and thrice by regularly active by day (Nettelbeck 1997), and contrary to state- line transects. Direct sightings were all in trees whereas camera- ments they are mostly nocturnal (e.g. Rozhnov 1994). Ground- trap images were on the ground, suggesting that though this species level camera-trapping is an excellent tool for determining activity may be generally arboreal, it may have to descend to the ground patterns of ground-dwelling species, but for those largely arboreal frequently when moving between trees, due to its heavy build its results need triangulation with methods able to detect the spe- (Than Zaw et al. 2008). It was encountered fairly close to slash cies at all heights in the habitat, in case visits to the ground are not and burn fields and in forests with elevation and hunting pressure spread randomly through the animal’s activity cycle. This remains ranging from low to high. This suggests that in this concession, unknown in the case of Binturongs. hunting may not be a serious threat for this species. Records were
Table 3. Sightings of Malay Weasel Mustela nudipes. Site Lat (N) Long (E) Altitude (m) Date Time Nº animals Sebuloh 3˚25.824′ 115˚10.533′ 673 30 Oct 2004 10h07 2 Coupe 9 Block 14 3˚16.512′ 115˚3.634′ * 23 Sept 2006 07h17 1 * unknown precisely; low or medium elevation
5 Small Carnivore Conservation, Vol. 42, June 2010 Mathai et al.
Table 4. Camera-trap encounters of Hose’s Civet Diplogale hosei and Collared Mongoose Herpestes semitorquatus. Species Site Lat (N) Long (E) Altitude Date Time Other notes (m) Hose's Civet Semali 3˚25.302′ 115˚13.602′ 945 6 Sept 2005 22h59 Semali 3˚25.302′ 115˚13.602′ 945 26 Sept 2005 23h10 Long Lellang 3˚25.807′ 115˚08.094′ 731 3 Nov 2005 18h33 PZ 3˚17.538′ 115˚06.308′ 1650 6 July 2005 19h40 Animal track off Trail H PZ 3˚17.538′ 115˚06.308′ 1650 17 April 2005 22h22 Animal track off Trail H PZ 3˚18.201′ 115˚05.194′ 1300 23 May 2005 02h34 Animal track on ridge off Trail J PZ 3˚17.963′ 115˚05.243′ 969 20 Nov 2005 19h17 Animal track on ridge PZ 3˚17.963′ 115˚05.243′ 969 22 Nov 2005 19h06 Animal track on ridge PZ 3˚17.963′ 115˚05.243′ 969 1 Dec 2005 05h04 Animal track on ridge PZ 3˚17.526′ 115˚06.252′ 1083 20 April 2005 22h53 Animal track near ridge, off Trail H PZ 3˚17.551′ 115˚07.025′ >1000 29 Sept 2005 00h46 Animal track on ridge in mossy forest; little undergrowth PZ 3˚17.551′ 115˚07.025′ >1000 4 Oct 2005 01h34 Animal track on ridge in mossy forest; little undergrowth Collared Selungo 3˚13.430′ 115˚10.859′ 356 12 May 2005 unknown Mongoose Selungo 3˚14.325′ 115˚10.724′ 300 12 May 2005 16h47
Table 5. Number of independent observations of each carnivore with high hunting pressure, near logging roads (but not with log- species using each method. ging activities per se), and fragmented by slash and burn fields. Species Number of independent observations Whether this is a dispersing animal or whether Hose’s Civet can Line Sign Camera- Total subsist in these more encroached areas, is unclear. transect survey trap The Sela’an-Linau FMU may be the only place where cam- Malay Weasel 2 0 0 2 era-trapping found this little-known species regularly, let alone Yellow-throated Marten 4 0 1 5 as one of the two most commonly trapped small carnivores (Van Rompaey & Azlan 2004, J. W. Duckworth verbally 2009). Moreo- Otter 0 3 0 3 ver, the area providing the biggest series of collected specimens Banded Linsang 0 0 1 1 was the nearby Kelabit Highlands (Davis 1958): perhaps this Malay Civet 0 9 12 21 part of Sarawak is the species’s prime habitat. The conservation Common Palm Civet 1 0 2 3 needs of Hose’s Civet are entirely unknown (Van Rompaey & Az- Masked Palm Civet 1 0 6 7 lan 2004, Yasuma 2004). Outside Sarawak, this species has been Binturong 3 0 4 7 recorded only in Sabah (e.g. Wells et al. 2005) and Brunei (e.g. Hose’s Civet 0 0 12 12 Yasuma 2004). Banded Civet 0 0 6 6 Collared Mongoose 0 0 2 2 Banded Civet Hemigalus derbyanus Short-tailed Mongoose 2 0 2 4 This civet was recorded seven times, six as singletons by camera- Marbled Cat 0 0 1 1 traps. Its higher photograph rate than palm civets may reflect a Leopard Cat 0 0 1 1 more ground-dwelling nature. All images were at midnight or late Large carnivores night, corroborating its exclusively nocturnal nature (Davis 1962). Sun Bear 4 45 7 56 Coat colour varies much in northern Borneo (Davis 1962). All im- Sunda Clouded Leopard 0 0 3 3 ages were of buffy-grey animals with black bars across back and Survey effort is quantified in the text; ‘total’ refers here only to records by face, and this may be the predominant colour form over Sarawak these three survey methods. (examination of about 15 skins in Sarawak Museum in 2009). A local hunter killed a rich reddish brown animal (as shown in Payne Hose’s Civet Diplogale hosei et al. 1985) in early 2004 in Sebuloh, an unlogged area at medium Hose’s Civet was detected in three sites, only by camera-traps. The elevation, close to slash and burn fields, indicating that this colour number of individuals involved is unknown. Being a plain-coated form also inhabits the area. species, identification of Hose’s Civet photographs to individual More camera-trapping is required to clarify this civet’s sta- is more challenging than with patterned species. The 12 images tus, particularly its use of disturbed habitats. Its IUCN Red Listing were spread across the night (Table 4), suggesting the species is as Vulnerable is based on declines inferred from habitat change; crepuscular and nocturnal. All images were from unlogged for- there seems to remain no empirical study of its adaptability to en- ests, all but one from montane forests with low hunting pressure, croachment and change in land-use patterns. far from logging roads; these forests had high contiguity and were not close to slash and burn fields. One image, however, came from Collared Mongoose Herpestes semitorquatus low elevation forests (the camera site itself was at 731 m a.s.l.), Collared Mongoose was camera-trapped at only one site; one im-
Small Carnivore Conservation, Vol. 42, June 2010 6 Small carnivores in a Sarawak logging concession age came from an animal track near a logging road in secondary Civet). forest (dense undergrowth), surrounded by burnt area, with the At least 19 species of small carnivore are expected in the Up- other from an animal track in a burnt area (Table 4). per Baram region, of which 14 were found in the Sela’an-Linau FMU during 54 months of line transects, sign surveys and camera- Short-tailed Mongoose Herpestes brachyurus trapping. These 14 include four species listed as Vulnerable by the This mongoose was encountered in three sites, twice each by IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN 2009): Hose’s Civet camera-trap and line transects. Sites, always fairly close to slash (endemic to Borneo), Binturong, Banded Civet and Marbled Cat. and burn fields, varied in hunting pressure, elevation, proximity Otters were not identified to species, but are also red-listed. One to logging roads and forest contiguity. It may be a widespread op- species, Collared Mongoose is Data Deficient on the Red List. portunist, tolerant of disturbance. All records were of singletons The otter species present in the FMU remain unclear; Davis on the ground. Sightings were in the morning, photographs in the (1958) recorded two in the nearby Kelabit Highlands (see above). morning and by day, indicating at least mainly diurnal activity. At least four more species of small carnivore plausibly in the Up- per Baram were not found by this survey. Small-toothed Palm Marbled Cat Pardofelis marmorata Civet Arctogalidia trivirgata (IUCN Least Concern) was recorded A Marbled Cat was camera-trapped on an animal track in the Pro- in the Kelabit Highlands by Davis (1958) and reported by local tected Zone (3°17′32″N, 115˚06′18″E, altitude 1,650 m), on the people in the FMU. It is strongly nocturnal and arboreal (Payne ground, at 05h49 on 22 April 2005. et al. 1985), and no survey methods suitable to find it were used (see Wilting et al. 2010). Local hunters’ reports suggested that two Leopard Cat Prionailurus bengalensis IUCN Endangered species, Bay Cat, endemic to Borneo and one A Leopard Cat was camera-trapped in the Protected Zone in the of the rarest cats in the world (Mohd-Azlan & Sanderson 2007), early night. and Otter Civet Cynogale bennettii, previously seen in the Kelabit Highlands by Harrisson (Medway 1977), occurred in the FMU. Reports dated from before logging operations were wide scale. Concluding discussion Another species, the Sunda Stink-badger (Malay Badger) Mydaus javanensis (IUCN Least Concern), has been collected several Camera-trapping was the best survey method for small carnivores times in the Kelabit Highlands (Davis 1958). This highly distinc- (Table 5): of 14 species recorded, 12 were detected by camera- tive species seemed unknown to local people, so it may have never traps, only six by line transects, and, given ambiguous species inhabited the FMU. identification, sign surveys were useful only for Malay Civet, Sun The main threats to small carnivores in the FMU remain un- Bear and otters. Sun Bear was the most widely found carnivore, in clear. Local hunters do not actively seek them, and some species 12 of the 14 sites (Table 2). This is, however, to be expected: Sun were found in areas of high hunting pressure. Hunting in the FMU Bear and Malay Civet are the only species identifiable by signs, usually (but not always) involves dogs, which accompany local increasing recording efficiency. Small carnivores were mostly hunters in their search for ungulates, especially Bearded Pig Sus sparsely recorded. Yellow-throated Marten was the most widely barbatus, muntjacs and Sambar Cervus unicolor. Primates, espe- encountered, at five sites (35.7%), perhaps reflecting its position cially macaques Macaca and langurs Presbytis, and rodents are as one of the few carnivores recorded during line transects, rather hunted to a lesser extent. At least Sun Bear, Binturong and other than it genuinely being more widespread than all other species. palm civets are taken as encountered, but hunters do not set out to Binturong, Masked Palm Civet, Common Palm Civet, Banded hunt them. Local hunters usually use home-made guns, spears and Civet and Short-tailed Mongoose are also probably widespread blowpipes, and hunt both by day and night. Snares are much used, within the FMU. Hose’s Civet and Malay Civet, though two of the targeting pheasants, rodents and chevrotains (mousedeer) Tragu- most commonly found small carnivores, were found at few sites. lus, although often, civets, particularly Malay Civet, fall victim. Malay Civet may occur mainly below 900 m a.s.l. and Hose’s Civ- Many small carnivores were found in areas affected by et may be more common between 600 to 1,800 m a.s.l. Banded logging, but the latter may constrain Binturong range. Otters in Linsang, Marbled Cat and Leopard Cat were detected in just one mainland South-east Asia are in heavy decline, through greatly site each (7.1%). All these patterns, however, require verification increased trade-driven hunting (e.g. Than Zaw et al. 2008), but through more records. this seems not to occur in Sarawak. Instead, here, shrinking habi- Comparison with results for muntjac Muntiacus spp. over the tat, pollution and siltation of rivers, the use of chemicals and ex- same period, using the same criteria for independent observations, plosives/electricity when fishing, resulting in severe depletion of highlights the effort needed for small carnivore records, and how the prey base of otters, may be problematic (see SAMD 2006). comparisons between species might well just reflect differences Shifting cultivation might be a threat to small carnivores mainly in survey methodology effectiveness. At least 170 independent through the temporary loss of the areas under cultivation at any images of muntjac were obtained (a conservative estimate: some given time: most species were found near slash and burn fields. images could not be identified precisely, and many lacked the time However, the ability for populations to persist in landscapes with print, hindering tallying of independent images) compared with extensive such conversion may differ greatly from the ability of the peak of 12 for any small carnivore (both Hose’s Civet and individuals resident in adjacent tall forest to use small degraded Malay Civet). Line transects gave 140 independent muntjac ob- patches. servations, compared with four each for Yellow-throated Marten Urgently required now are studies specifically of small carni- and Short-tailed Mongoose, the most recorded small carnivores. vores to determine distribution and conservation status within the Sign surveys gave 163 independent muntjac observations, com- Sela’an-Linau FMU. Encounter rates are very low and many spe- pared with the maximum of nine for any small carnivore (Malay cies nocturnal and crepuscular: line transects yield few data. Sign
7 Small Carnivore Conservation, Vol. 42, June 2010 Mathai et al. surveys are useful only for few species. Night-spotting may be an Davis, D. D. 1958. Mammals of the Kelabit plateau, northern Sarawak. option, but there are no roads in unlogged areas and uneven terrain Fieldiana, Zoology 39: 119–147. makes passage on foot noisy. Moreover, it is risky to the surveyors: Davis, D. D. 1962. Mammals of the lowland rainforest of North Borneo. hunters regularly use firearms at night in the FMU. Camera-traps Bulletin of the National Museum of Singapore 31: 1–129. seem best to study these animals, except those species mostly ar- Duckworth, J. W., Lee, B. P. Y.-H., Meijaard, E. & Meiri, S. 2006. The boreal. Modifications to the selection of sites for camera-traps so Malay Weasel Mustela nudipes: distribution, natural history and a far used here could include aiming cameras towards fallen trees, global conservation status review. Small Carnivore Conservation and, in particular, using odours/scents in canisters resistant to rain 34&35: 2–21. (see Giman et al. 2007). Otters may require camera placement Giman, B., Stuebing, R. Megum, N., McShea, W. J. & Stewart, C. M. nearer rivers and streams, which would also allow consideration 2007. A camera trapping inventory for mammals in a mixed use of Otter Civet status. Knowledge of local guides is invaluable in planted forest in Sarawak. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 55: 209–215. selecting sites: that the Selungoh site yielded many species and Grassman, L. I., Jr., Tewes, M. E. & Silvy, N. J. 2005. Ranging, habi- records in part reflects that the main guide was from this area. tat use and activity patterns of Binturong Arctictis binturong and Wider use in camera-trapping surveys of hunters knowledgeable Yellow-throated Marten Martes flavigula in north-central Thailand. of each site could boost small carnivore encounter rates. It is also Wildlife Biology 11: 49–57. suggested that a record be kept of animals hunted by local hunters, Hon, J., Mathai, J., Juat, N., Peter, A. & Gumal, M. 2009. A wildlife sur- with detailed description of where they were hunted. vey of the Sela’an-Linau Forest Management Unit, with conserva- In conservation terms, Hose’s Civet stands out from the other tion implications and management recommendations. Wildlife Con- species recorded, because it has a much smaller known range, and servation Society Malaysia, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. no protected area is known to hold a large population. Fuller sur- IUCN 2009. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2009.1. vey of montane northern Borneo to allow an assessment of overall
Small Carnivore Conservation, Vol. 42, June 2010 8 Small carnivores in a Sarawak logging concession
report 1997. SFD, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. Wild Life Protection Ordinance 1998. Sarawak Wild Life Protectirinance Schreiber, A., Wirth, R., Riffel, M., & Van Rompaey, H. 1989. Weasels, 1998. SFD, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. civets, mongooses, and their relatives: an action plan for the conser- Wilting, A., Samejima, H. & Mohamed, A. 2010. Diversity of Bornean vation of mustelids and viverrids. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland. viverrids and other small carnivores in Deramakot Forest Reserve, Than Zaw, Saw Htun, Saw Htoo Tha Po, Myint Maung, Lynam, A. J., Sabah, Malaysia. Small Carnivore Conservation 42: [[[Divya: in- Kyaw Thinn Latt & Duckworth, J. W. 2008. Status and distribution sert pg nos!]]]. of small carnivores in Myanmar. Small Carnivore Conservation 38: Yasuma, S. 2004. Observations of a live Hose’s Civet Diplogale hosei. 2–28. Small Carnivore Conservation 31: 3–5. Van Rompaey, H. & Azlan J., M. 2004. Hose’s Civet, Diplogale hosei. Small Carnivore Conservation 30: 18–19. Wildlife Conservation Society Malaysia Program, 7 Wells, K., Bium, A. & Gabin, M. 2005. Viverrid and herpestid observa- Jalan Ridgeway, 93200 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia tions by camera and small cage trapping in the lowland rainforests Emails: [email protected] (John Mathai), on Borneo including a record of the Hose’s Civet, Diplogale hosei. [email protected] (Ngumbang Juat) Small Carnivore Conservation 32: 12–14.
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9 Small Carnivore Conservation, Vol. 42, June 2010